Can A Chef Afford Rent in Bennington, VT?

Comfortably affordable — rent takes 26.8% of gross income.

Bennington rent: March 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Vermont state estimate).

Bennington median rent
$1,388/mo
Chef salary (Vermont)
$62,226/yr
Rent as % of income
26.8%
Gross monthly income works out to about $5,186, and the 30% rule supports up to $1,556/mo in rent. Bennington's median rent of $1,388 leaves roughly $168/mo of headroom under that threshold. A chef works roughly 46.4 hours a month to cover that rent.

About rent and a chef salary

Chef pay varies sharply by restaurant type, with executive chefs at high-end establishments earning materially above the BLS mean. At the national-average chef salary, the 30% rule supports about $1,604 a month in rent.

Cheaper rent nearby

These Vermont cities have lower median rent than Bennington, which improves the affordability math on a chef salary:

Barre, VT
$1,382/mo (26.7% of income)
Barre, VT
$1,360/mo (26.2% of income)

Compare with full rent data for Bennington

View full rent data for Bennington, VT

Frequently asked questions

Can a chef afford rent in Bennington, VT?

Median rent in Bennington is $1,388 a month. A typical chef in Vermont earns about $62,226 a year, which makes that rent 26.8% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is yes.

How much rent can a chef afford in Bennington?

Using the 30% rule, a chef salary in Vermont (~$62,226/yr) supports up to $1,556 a month in rent. Bennington's current median rent is $1,388/mo, which leaves a $168/mo buffer.

How many hours does a chef work to cover rent in Bennington?

At an hourly equivalent of about $30 an hour, a chef in Vermont works roughly 46.4 hours a month to cover Bennington's median rent of $1,388.

Where is rent cheaper than Bennington for a chef?

Nearby Vermont cities with lower median rent include Barre ($1,382/mo), Barre ($1,360/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a chef salary.

Methodology: Salary uses the BLS-derived Vermont state estimate from OEWS May 2024. Rent is the most recent ZORI monthly value for Bennington, VT. Affordability applies the 30% rule (rent ≤ 30% of gross income). Real take-home varies with taxes, household composition, overtime, tips, and benefits.